2010-2011: Taking Steps to Sobriety

Addict-shuns | Addictions Delves into Traditional 12 Steps

Over the next 12 months this blog focuses on each step being the theme for a month. It begins in September alongside Recovery Month celebrated by The National Alcohol and Drug Addiction group. The plan is to share resources, links, books, movies and insight into recovery and wholeness, along with personal insight and thoughts.

Through this blog I’ll take time to walk the 12 Steps with a fresh, wide eyed view of the each step. It’s my journey about recovery on the other side of addiction, hopefully a creative intuitive one. I have never actually worked with anyone through these steps, only having read them. I’d like to experience them firsthand as a co-dependent. I think it is a poor term not truly accurately describing one on the other side of addiction.

My experience with addiction is through my own upbringing, fellow addicts that are friends, family, acquaintances or stories heard. I do not speak for anyone who has substance addiction or like issues. Only an addict can tell his/her story. Yet those involved with them living in the circle of their insanity shares that very same story on the flip side of the coin in a mirrored way. This is the heart of Addictshun | Addictions to tell both sides.

I only know my own tendencies for obsessive compulsions towards foods, online games, old movies, and that creepy dark friend, depression, if that counts as addiction. Perhaps-the depression is a symptom or reason for avoidance, something to be investigated along the way. Using the steps created by AA I plan to unveil this journey towards wholeness and recovery.

This blog doesn’t pretend to know all about addictions, nor do I have an education through schooling or university. Life has been my university, with a passion for knowledge and wisdom about everything it takes to be whole in a seemingly broken world. So check back here regularly. Look for the banner above to get the low-down on Addictshun’s view of the 12 Steps. Your comments, stories and ideas are encouraged.

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September 2010 Recovery Month

For the last Twenty years  the "National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month celebrates September 2010 with another year of voices for recovery. This organization has inspired millions of people by raising awareness about addiction with stories of recovery and helping those still struggling. At any age, with any substance, recovery happens, there is hope!

This site contains information, resources and support for anyone interested in recovery and turning our nation's drug challenges around. People perish for lack of knowledge. I strongly encourage anyone visiting this blog to visit the site, learn, participate, and share your stories!

Watch the Webcast:
RECOVERY at any Age: Young People Can and Do Recover.
Recovery Month

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THOUGHTS: Encounters with "Sober" Addicts

Typical pattern of conversations with some recovering addicts.

Ever find yourself in a circle pattern with an addict? Especially ones that quit their substances, but NEVER work the 12 Steps or their recovery with qualified professionals or AA mentors.

1. They ask you to join them, help or do something for them.
2. You kindly listen, think about it and tell them you need some time to think it through.
3. Their urgency is certainly more important then anything you have to do. When they don’t hear back or your disinterested the tide turns. Icy silence, builds in the mindset creating frustration against you.
4. Should you not come through with their “said” plan, idea or assistance, they turn it back on you that you didn’t listen right, they become verbally abusive even though they don’t think they are.
5. When you try to explain your position, they become defensive, masking untold years of anger dumping it back on you the innocent victim. After all they are the always right. They arrogantly proclaim that they can do it themselves. They don’t need anyone else, and certainly others will come running when they call.
6. You end up feeling terrible, when it wasn’t your problem to begin with. Guilt is the screw they turn when they don’t get their way. You are left with lousy feeling while they go on dishing it out again and again.
7. Makes sense? Not!         

When the addict is manipulating for money for his drug/alcohol or whatever habits, at least you know that’s all about. It’s easy to say no. When they continue this pattern after the substance is gone, this behavior is intolerable. You’ve experienced all their lies, deceit and manipulation before. Only this time they are supposedly straight and sober. They prey upon your goodness and mercy. Their pattern is to make everyone else pay for their sin. The blame always is pointed at others when the rest of the fingers point clearly back at them.

Sober doesn’t mean a thing until the 12 Steps are worked.

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THOUGHTS: Sobriety and Fruit

Lots of talk about Sobriety...

Is it the absence of substance only? Let’s say someone quits alcohol, drugs, and no longer is physically addicted. They celebrate their sobriety through 12 step groups or having done it on their own. Does this mean they are truly free from the effects of their substance abuse? What about the root cause of why they went on the self-destructive roller coaster ride? 

WHAT ARE YOUR FRUITS?

It’s written that one “recognizes people by their fruit.” Jesus likens people to trees. Bad trees give off rotten fruit, good trees yield good fruit. Fruits like love, forgiveness, understanding, patience and encouragement are people’s GOOD FRUIT. Selfishness, angry cutting words, manipulative ventures, vengeful attitudes, intolerance of other peoples needs, and frustrating relationships are people with BAD FRUIT. 

What some addicts in recovery can’t see is their own fruit. Too long they lived with rotten fruit. For the length of days they were bowed to their addiction: selfishness, cruelty, denial, lies and loss of boundaries were the habit and patterns of their daily walk. Everything revolved around their needs. They stepped on others, manipulated with guild, and used them, played them and ultimately fooled everyone around them. Those behaviors spin the world of addict, inflicting pain on everyone around them. Then they get sober, and think they are fine. Everyone else is to blame. Sad, but true.

So when they drop their substance/addiction, what is left? What fills the void of the substance, the black hole of their addiction? Either they stay the same personality, or go on to recovery and find new life. Recovery is the process of finding the state of a healthy mind. It only takes one step forward with 11 to follow.

Another aspect of recovery is Restoration. To restore involves bringing something back to its original condition or to a better or more useful state. Sobriety and recovery are so much more than putting down the addiction.

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sober |ˈsōbər|

adjective ( -berer , -berest )

not affected by alcohol; not drunk. (drugs, sex, work, gambling, the list goes on!)

• serious, sensible, and solemn : a sober view of life | his expression became sober.

• free from alcoholism; not habitually drinking alcohol : I've been clean and sober for five years.

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recover |riˈkəvər|

verb

1 [ intrans. ] return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength 

2 [ trans. ] find or regain possession of (something stolen or lost)

• regain control of (oneself or of a physical or mental state) 

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Re-organization and Blog Cleansing

Today the re-release begins of the series FROM HER JOURNAL on it's own page and tab found at top of the blog. It begins with the first six installments over the next several days. These are the private writings of a friend who agreed to share her other side of the fence experiences in the journey from addiction to recovery. They have been re-organized with minor modifications. Previous versions are now removed from the archives. The chapters in the title make it easier to search for this series.

All other posts in this blog will be updated with the same navigational features in mind, including correction of broken links, grammar/spelling and content. There is also a new tab for sponsored ads paid for by facilities who are there to help addicts find recovery. More informative tabs to come!

Thank you for your readership, loyalty and review of addictshun | addicions. Check out all the links and honor the sponsored ads which brings small sums to help support this blog. Freely comment here, more importantly dialogue and talk about life with each other. the root of addiction lies in hidden hurts and fear. bring light to the darkness of your soul through conversation with safe people. looking forward to hearing from readers of this blog!

Selah,
Rasama

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 Be Sober, Be Healed
 Are you or someone you know struggling with addiction?
It affects everyone.
Ready for a change?
 Addiction Rehab is available.
 Make a choice today.

THOUGHTS: Substance of Choice...

MUSES ABOUT ADDICTION...
This morning drinking coffee with a friend, I listened carefully as this former smoker of weed, expressed his disdain for alcohol, beginning with the taste, the effect, and general atmosphere where people meet to drink. "It seems like when women drink, they just lose their self-control and act stupid! Dancing like they think they are the queens on the floor when in reality they stink. Not only that, between the 5 people in attendance of their little celebration at a sports bar, they went through 2 bottles of tequila, and 20 bottles of beer. I only drank 1/2 a beer, and gave my shot to the guy sitting next to me. I hate bars. They smell bad and people act like fools. Why do people worship alcohol? It's sloppy and messes people up."  Could it be that within the realm of addiction there are factions? Just like anything else, members of "teams' stick, as birds of a feather flock together. In a small way this line of conversation and thought confirms my suspicion that the root of addiction lies in the need to belong. 

Good question asked, although I bet some would ask the same thing about people who abuse drugs, pharmaceuticals, gamble or whatever. I looked for a book on substance choices. I found one book that is a comprehensive text about substance abuse, but it's $229. After yesterday's post about wolves and sheep, it made think that those people are wolves in shepherds clothing. I don't want to be too harsh. I know research and writing, in the publishing world is time and money. I suppose having a book like that would save the time it takes to go to college for four years to learn about the psychology of Substance Abuse. One would think so!

From the other side of addiction, I see a huge difference. Weed, meth, drugs, coke, all are ILLEGAL. Alcohol is not. I suppose on a sliding scale of mild to horrible, weed is on the mild side while meth is outrageously destructive. Funny thing, while alcohol is legal, the damage goes far beyond the one who drinks, even though physically there is no justification for abusing this choice of addiction.

Listening to my friend opened my eyes to the fact that different personalities need certain types of atmospheres and ways to soothe their weary souls. There are no formulas as to why. I just find it interesting that drug/pot users usually don't condone alcoholic use and visa-versa. Then you have the both sides of the fence people. They partake both, or have been busted with illegal stuff and switch to drink as a substitute. It's a conundrum to say the least!

There is one thing that links most addicts. Doesn’t’ it seem to you that nearly all addicts; recovering or not, SMOKE cigarettes? In my opinion, smokers have the deepest, meanest long-term addiction of all. So few break this habit, it's really shameful! I suppose a muse about cigarettes is on the horizon. For now, I just needed to write these thoughts down, in the journey of understanding addiction.

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Be Sober, Be Healed.
Are you or someone you know struggling with addiction?
It affects everyone. Ready for a change?
Addiction Rehab is available.
Make a choice today.

Wolf seeking Sheep

Yesterday the question "why do people become addicted?" came to mind. How did this epidemic grow so out of control? The addiction crisis in our nation will certainly make the fall of the Roman Empire seem to be a "little trip" if a solution isn’t found the influx of drugs coming through the borders, meth labs in every town and prescription medications taken like candy. It seems like each and every conversation of late contains reference to drugs, abuse, addiction to food, work, sex, or gambling. There is always a story about a friend, relative or celebrity told of how life is out of control with the obsession of some substance or thing. Clicking through each channel on TV shows the prevalent nature of addiction thematic in movies, reality shows and real time news reports.

The SOLUTION to addiction needs a defining realization of WHY people get addicted. I have an idea it is a life felt cry, from out of control people to belong somewhere or to someone. Something or someone hurt them so deeply they were unable to dig themselves out. Why some make it and others don't is the real question here.  The answer lies in communication; openness and a hard look at the failures of schools, governments, media and even the medical field to actually stop the madness.

All of us search for meaning with purpose, and boundaries to live by. Most find peace and belonging through faith, love of family and a place in community. Yet sometimes the very family that was to nurture people crushes them. Others broken by the world or some disaster never gain their balance in a world gone crazy. They are lost sheep out of a pasture, into the wilderness of addictions. A more frightening reality is wolves that prey on the weak making addicts into their cash cows, under the guise of needs being met. This includes gambling and online casinos, all you can eat restaurants, online gaming, pornography, and a list to broad to keep adding.

Tell me. Are you wolf, sheep or shepherd?

The Good Shepherd, Jesus said the greatest of all is to “love one another as you would be loved.” Certainly the root of all need is the feeling to belong, be loved and affirmed. I say we define love this way, then act on it. You see with love, open, honest dialog happens – you know the heart to heart conversation, only then answers can be found and people saved from the madness of addiction. I suggest those who aren't addicts, to be shepherds gathering in the lost sheep from the addiction wilderness. Too often hurt people get lost due to our absence and ignorance.

Addiction is all about secrets: not telling, hiding and denial. Judgment and punishment only makes addicts go further under ground. It’s time to open our eyes to understanding each other. To make therapy for addicts affordable within reason of obtaining freedom from what ails them. The government, the medical and insurance companies have made addiction into the same cash cow, like the predator wolf!

Certainly this issue takes dialog from both sides of the addiction equation. These thoughts let me know why this blog began and the purpose of writing it.  So tell me, are you wolf, sheep or shepherd?